Author: Sayyed Muslih al-din
Prayer and Its Significance in Islam (Part Three)
The Universe is Constantly in Motion and Worship
Since the beginning of existence, the sun has given life to the earth with its radiance and warmth. The moon, like a bright lamp in the night, lights the way and helps us distinguish the months and years. The mountains, which have stood firm for thousands of years, perform their role well. Tall trees with abundant fruits provide cool shade and, at the same time, worship Allah, serving humans—Allah’s caliphs on earth. Air and oxygen are the messengers of life, bringing us the breath of life.
Winds carry rain clouds from one side to the other, and these clouds revive the parched lands. Rivers flow, quenching human thirst and nourishing agricultural lands, revealing the hidden treasures of the earth. Animals and cattle are also in motion, as if in a constant state of bowing and submission, carrying the burdens of humans and providing benefits such as skin for clothing and meat for food. Other creatures that crawl on land also meet the needs of humans. These creatures, lacking reason or heart, are always in a state of worship and obedience to Allah Almighty—never disobeying, never exhausting, needing no rest or vacation, seemingly always in prostration.
The Holy Quran states: “Have you not seen that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and the earth—the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the animals, and many of the people? And many are those upon whom punishment is made obligatory; and whoever Allah humiliates, no one can honor him; for Allah does whatever He wills.”
«وَلِله يَسْجُدُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مِنْ دَابَّةٍ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَهُمْ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ. يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ» Translation: “And to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures and the angels, and they are not arrogant. They fear their Lord above them and do what they are commanded.”
«وَلِله يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلَالُهُمْ بِالْغُدُو وَالْآصَالِ» Translation: “And to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly and unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the morning and evening.”
«الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ * وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ» Translation: “The sun and the moon move by precise calculation, and the stars and the trees prostrate.”
«اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَكُمْ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْهَارَ، وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَآتَاكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ» Translation: “It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth, sent down water from the sky, and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. And He has subjected to you the ships to sail through the sea by His command, and He has subjected to you the rivers. He has subjected to you the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, and He has subjected to you the night and the day and has given you of all you have asked of Him. And if you were to count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, man is a disbeliever.” (“Oppressive and ungrateful”)
Therefore, despite the diversity of their worship, various creatures are in a state of prayer; a prayer consistent with their nature and duty, engaged in praise and glorification that only those whom Allah Almighty has granted insight can understand. «أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالطَّيْرُ صَافَّاتٍ كُلٌّ قَدْ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُ وَتَسْبِيحَهُ وَاللهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ» Translation: “Have you not seen that to Allah glorifies whoever is in the heavens and the earth and the birds with wings outspread? Each has known his prayer and his glorification. And Allah is Knowing of what they do.”
The Position and Desires of Man in the World and the Reason for His Superiority Over Other Creatures in Worship
Man, because of his honor, characteristics, intellect, and heart, is more deserving than all the creatures mentioned above to be in constant worship—always standing, bowing, prostrating, praising, and glorifying Allah. His tongue should remain busy with the remembrance of Allah. The characteristics and attributes that Allah Almighty has bestowed upon man, the divine gaze and attention directed at him, and the blessings and favors showered upon him demand that he never abandon worship and not neglect prayer, even for the blink of an eye. Like the angels whom Allah Almighty has praised thus: «وَلَهُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَلَا يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ. يُسَبِّحُونَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لَا يَفْتُرُونَ» Translation: “To Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth. And those near Him are not too proud to worship Him, nor do they grow weary. They glorify Him night and day, never slackening.”
Despite this, this same earthly man was chosen to be the caliph of Allah Almighty on earth and was nurtured for this position. Lusts, desires, needs, feelings, emotions, and qualities such as friendship, kindness, compassion, and the experience of pain and pleasure were instilled in him. He was given the ability to recognize and utilize the hidden treasures, blessings, resources, and energies that Allah Almighty has placed on earth. Teaching names at the beginning of creation was granted only to man, without angels, which symbolizes this innate ability and is a sign of his caliphate on earth, serving as the key to communication with this planet, whose command and responsibility he has been entrusted with.
«وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ. وَعَلَّمَ آدَمَ الْأَسْمَاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ هَؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ. قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ. قَالَ يَا آدَمُ أَنْبِئْهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ فَلَمَّا أَنْبَأَهُمْ بِأَسْمَائِهِمْ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ لَكُمْ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ غَيْبَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَأَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ» Translation: “And [mention] when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will place upon the earth a successive authority,’ they said, ‘Will You place upon it one who will cause corruption therein and shed blood, while we exalt You with praise and sanctify You?’ He said, ‘Indeed, I know that which you do not know.’ And He taught Adam His names—all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, ‘Inform Me of my names, if you should be truthful.’ They said, ‘Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is Knowing and Wise.’ He said, ‘O Adam, inform them of my names.’ And when he had informed them of his names, He said, ‘Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth and that I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing?’”
«هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا» Translation: “It is He who created for you all that is on the earth.” «قُلْ مَنْ حَرَّمَ زِينَةَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَ لِعِبَادِهِ وَالطَّيِّبَاتِ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ» Translation: “Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has produced for His servants and the good things of provision?’”
Choosing man for this important position, creating him in accordance with this purpose, and entrusting him with the responsibility of the caliphate on earth—overseeing its resources and energies—does not contradict man’s need for constant worship, nor that he should always be standing, bowing, prostrating, praising, and remembering Allah. Man should worship and serve Allah in alignment with his role on earth, but this worship should be compatible with his earthly duties and responsibilities.
If a person tries or forces himself to always be in worship while neglecting his duties on earth, he demonstrates a failure to fulfill the responsibility of the caliphate on earth, thereby confirming the angels’ claims of their worthiness for this significant position since they are always in worship, glorification, praise, and supplication. In this way, a person must create a balance between worship and fulfilling his duties on earth so he can best fulfill his role as the caliph of Allah on earth.
Continues…
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